The rare jewel of Christian contentment. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to…The rare jevvel of Christian contentment. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to…

The First Consideration,

We should consider (in all our wants and inclinations to discontent) The greatness of the mercies that we have, and the meanness of the things that we want. The things we want, (if we be godly) they are things of very small moment in comparison to the things we have, and the things we have are things of very great moment, for the most part that that people are discontent and murmur for the want of, it is because they have not such things as reprobates have, or may have; why shouldst thou be troubled so much for the want of that that a man or woman may have & yet be a reprobate, as that thy estate is not so great, thy health not so perfect, thy credit not so much, thou mayest have all those things and yet be a reprobate; now wilt thou be discontent for that that a reprobate may have? I shall give you the example of a couple of godly men meeting together, Anthony and Diddimus, Diddimus was blind, and yet a man of very excellent parts and graces, Anthony asked him if he was not troubled at this his want of sight, he confessed he was, but (saith he) shall you be troubled at the want of what flies and dogs have, and not rather rejoice & be thankful that you have what Angels have? God hath given you those good things that makes Angels glorious, is not that enough to you, though you want what thing a fly hath? And so a Christian should reason the case with himself, what am I discontented for? I am discontented for want of that that a dog may have, that a devil may have, that a reprobate may have, shall I be discontent for not having that, when as God hath given me that that makes Angels glorious? Blessed be God (saith the Apostle) in Ephe. 1. 3. that hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings im heavenly places, it may be thou hast not so great blessings ⟨p. 188⟩in earthly places as some others have, but if the Lord hath blessed thee in heavenly places that should content thee, there's blessings in heaven, and he hath set thee here for the present as it were in heaven, in a heavenly place, the consideration of the greatness of the mercies that we have, and the littleness of the things that God hath denied us, is a very powerful consideration to work this grace of Contentment.